By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
Hallam Hawks Football Club sees itself as a family club that’s proud of its support for women’s footy but its efforts to expand into netball has stalled due to dated facilities.
Club past president Peter Maskiell said the Hawks have waited patiently for several years for Casey council to fund the necessary female changerooms, netball courts and more parking at Hallam Recreation Reserve.
Recently their bid had “dropped off” the council’s five-year capital works program into the “beyond (five years)” column, he said.
Despite being housed in one of the “older looking” facilities, the club proudly attracts a strong legion of females, about 170 juniors as well as big crowds to its games for its four mens and womens teams.
Mr Maskiell said people like to stick around the club for many years which accounts for its sizeable rank of life-members.
He has been there for 17 years. His kids have risen through the club’s junior ranks to their senior sides.
“It’s a different kind of football club – we have lots of kids and wives. It’s been one of the original clubs that supported women’s and girls’ football.
“We’ve waited a while to start our netball program but we can’t wait anymore.”
On 21 June, club members petitioned the council to have the project shifted back into the five-year list “at the earliest possible year”.
The petition also requested the council consider applying for state grants that support women’s sports facilities.
Councillor Wayne Smith, in tabling the petition, requested that Casey officers meet with the club at the reserve and report back to the council on the matter.
He said the club – like most sports groups in Casey – was growing but there was limited space in the municipality to cater for the growth.
“Officers are pretty sympathetic to their cause. It’s just a matter of how to fund it.”
